Ideas for decorating a 4 square meter bathroom.

Features of small bathroom design

Yes, 4 square meters is not a very large area. But it can’t be called tiny either – even a combined bathroom will fit everything you need, including a washing machine. The only nuance is that you need to create a design so that it does not look even smaller.

• Install the door so that it opens outward, not inward to the bathroom.
• Place the plumbing as close to the walls as possible, for example, from the wall on the side to the center of the toilet there should be 38-45 centimeters. In this case, even on 4 sq. m. there will be free space in the center of the room
• Give preference to white glossy sanitary ware, it visually expands the space.
• Hang a large mirror, the reflective surface increases the area of the room.
• Use white and pastel shades in the interior with a minimum of dark and bright accents.
• Carefully consider bright lighting, light rooms seem visually larger.
• Choose “floating” furniture and plumbing, due to the free floor, a feeling of spaciousness is created.
• Combine the necessary minimum of items, do not clutter the room with unnecessary junk.
• Decorate the bathroom in a laconic style, getting rid of visual noise. A design in Scandinavian style, Japandi or minimalism will look great.
• Reduce the dimensions of finishing materials: small-format ceramic tiles, for example, will be more appropriate.

What colors are best for decoration?

The classic color scheme for any, including a small bathroom, should not be limited cold sea tones – use light tones. When planning the design of the bathroom, pay attention to these shades:

• White. Pearl, ivory, alabaster.
• Beige. Sand, creme brulee, linen.
• Gray. Gainsborough, platinum, silver.
• Blue. Sky blue, white and blue, aquamarine.
• Green. Mint, spring, pistachio.
• Pink. Powdery, dusty rose.
• Lilac. Lavender, purple.
• Yellow. Lemon, vanilla, champagne, apricot.

You don’t need to choose finishing materials, plumbing and furniture in the same color – let them differ from each other by several shades. This technique will add volume to the bathroom and make a small room more spacious.

The photo shows a separate small bathroom of 4 m2

As for the use of dark and bright tones in the project, do it in doses and on small objects:

• glass for brushes and soap dish;
• jars, baskets, storage boxes;
• pattern on a shower curtain;
• sink;
• toilet seat.

What finish is better to use?

When developing a bathroom design, it is necessary to take into account not only the layout, but also the finishing materials. The choice of high-quality suitable coverings will turn a room of 4 square meters into a real work of art.

Finishing starts from the top and moves down, the first thing to do is to decorate the ceiling. There should be no complex figured plasterboard structures, because it will reduce your 4 square meters in height. The ceiling is painted or stretch ceilings are used, the color is exclusively light, the stretch ceiling is glossy or satin.

Let’s move on to the walls. Bathroom finishing implies that the covering should be not only beautiful, but also practical. Walls should not be afraid of constant humidity, water ingress, cleaning with detergents.

The main contenders are porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles, high-quality paint, decorative plaster, PVC panels. It is better to forget about using wallpaper – in a small bathroom water gets everywhere, so avoid hydrophobic materials. I also do not recommend using clapboard, because the lathing will eat up precious space.

The photo shows a bathroom with a combined wall finish of tiles and paint

Self-leveling flooring or tiles are also laid on the floor, because laminate will not withstand aggressive conditions. Before laying tiles in the bathroom, take care of your future comfort and install a heated floor system: this way your feet will always be cozy and warm. Linoleum is suitable for budget renovation, but high-quality models are not much cheaper than tiles.

How to arrange furniture, appliances and plumbing?

The bathroom interior includes the bowl itself or a shower cabin, a sink, a toilet (in the case of a combined bathroom), a washing machine, and storage space. Start planning with the largest item.

If the geometry of the room allows, install the bathtub from wall to wall on the side of the entrance – this way it takes up less space and you have enough space left to organize other zones. To save space in the bathroom, replace the bowl with a shower cabin – you will win at least 80 * 80 cm and will be able to install a washing machine and dryer in the resulting void.

You can either do without a sink altogether, or choose an overhead model installed on top of the countertop or washing machine.

The toilet is usually located as far away from the washing area as possible, along the wall opposite the bathtub. Make sure there is free space on the sides (35-45 cm) and in front (70-75 cm) of the toilet. If possible, install a suspended version with a hidden drain system, it looks more compact.

On 4 square meters, you will not have any separate space for a washing machine (the exception is near the shower stall). Place the appliances under the countertop, keeping in mind the vibration gaps of 2-3 cm on the sides and ~2 cm on top.

Bathroom furniture is chosen based on the residual principle: evaluate where you can install the necessary items and what size they should be:

• A cabinet under the sink or a washstand. It helps to hide communications, frequently used cosmetics and other products. If there is no washing machine nearby, it is better to choose a hanging model.
• A cabinet or shelf above the sink. A great option is a thin closed cabinet with a mirrored façade. It performs 2 functions at once. A lot of things will accumulate on an open shelf and your 4 square meters will look untidy.
• A rack. For those who prefer open storage, this is an inexpensive floor-standing alternative to a roomy tall cabinet. But it is advisable to organize storage in boxes and containers. Today, there are excellent options installed above the toilet, which are often used to save space in the bathroom.
• Open shelves. If there is a niche somewhere, filling it with shelves will be a great idea!

In the photo of a cabinet with mirrors above the sink

Organization of lighting

When thinking about the design of the bathroom, do not forget to consider the light: there should be a lot of it. The simplest option remains spotlights: 4-6 bulbs will fill the room with light and make it more spacious.

Another idea is directional light fixtures. One track with 3-5 elements illuminating different zones will solve the problem of a dark room.

In addition to competent ceiling lighting, add detailed lighting: for example, near the mirror or in the shower.

The photo shows the contour lighting of the mirror in the bathroom

Nuances for a combined bathroom

A bathroom combined with a toilet can have two design options: with a full-fledged bowl or a shower cabin.

Choose the first option if you or your family members like to take a bath. There is enough space for a cast iron or acrylic bathtub on 4 sq. m. But you will have to sacrifice storage: you won’t be able to install a capacious tall cabinet, for example. That is, there will be no room for towels and robes, you will have to take them outside the bathroom or use all possible space, for example, above the door.

The photo shows a combined bathroom in a blue palette

A shower, on the contrary, allows you to win space for placing in a shared bathroom not only plumbing, but also all the necessary furniture, including a large cabinet or shelving unit. You will organize convenient storage, you will not have to take anything out of the bathroom. However, when installing a shower, keep in mind that you need enough space to enter it – in a limited space, it is better to choose a model with sliding doors rather than hinged ones.

How to design a bathroom without a toilet?

If you do not plan to place a toilet in 4 square meters, you have plenty of room to roam! Install a large, comfortable bowl on one side of the entrance (there is enough space even for a modern corner model with a hydromassage function!). In the other corner, put cabinets and a washing machine.

The photo shows the white interior of a separate bathroom with an area of 4 m2

The location of the sink can also be classic – next to the bathtub. In this case, you will not have to pull communications and redo the pipes. Or original – for example, hang a large mirror on the entire wall opposite the bathtub, and organize a washing area under it.

The photo shows a bathroom without a toilet

Examples in the interior

Whatever the shape of your compact bathroom – square or rectangular, thanks to our advice you will be able to create a cozy space even on 4 m2! Make a list of the necessary interior items and plan in advance the layout of how they should be installed – then you will not have any unpleasant surprises during the renovation.